Electric-railway system



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' H. A. CHASE.

v ELEGTRIG RAILWAY SYSTEM. No. 605,814. Patented June14, 1898.

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H. AVG EASE. ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM.

No. 605,814. Patented June 1898.

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' H. A. CHASE.-

ELECTRIU RAILWAY SYSTEM.

No. 605,814. Patented June 14,1898.

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No. 605,814,, Patented June-14,1898.

1 UN TED STATES,

PATENT Orrrcs,

HENRY A; CHASE, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRICFRAIIVLWAY SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ratent No. 605,814, dated June 14, 1898. Application filed Tamm 7, 1891. Serial No. 380,581. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. CHASE, of Boston, countyof Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement-in Electric-Railway Systems, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like Prior to this invention it has been common in electric-railway systems to take the current for'actuating the motor on the car from an overhead wire or conductor, a trolley-wheel running against said wire, and so, also, in United States Patent No. 392,664, heretofore granted to me and dated November 13, 1888, and upon which the invention herein to be described is an improvement, the conductor is shown as arranged in a slot-chamber, the conductor being supplied at suitable intervals with a current through feed-wires suitably insulated in an accessible chamber and connected at suitable points and distances apart with and-so as to supply the current to" the conductors, with which contacts a suitable current-collector or trolley. So, also, in

other United States Patents-No. 400,300,

1 dated March 26, 1889, and No. 410,510, dated September 3, 1889there are shown slotchambers and accesible chambers containing the said power-wires connected at suitable intervals with'the conductor in the slot-chamber, and United States Patent No.410,510 shows a current-collector cooperating with the said conductor, the current-collector therein shown being in the shape of a trolley-; wheel running on the under side of the conductor. Y As my invention is herein illustrated the slot-chamber is provided with a conductor, as

forming an opening for the arm of the current-collector extended from the car.

It is very essential that the distance between the edges of the slot-rails should be as little as possible, soas to prevent the entrance of a carriage-wheel into the said slot, and believing it also to be a matter of Very considerable importance to be, able to insert or withdraw the said arm and the current-collector from the slot-chamber I have made the said arm very narrow and have also made the current-collector of such width that it may be readily moved into or out from the slot between the slot-rails at any desired point.

' The conductor is located at one side of a vertical line intersecting the slot between the slot-rails, and the guide is located at the other side of said slot, and in this way whenever the current-collector is dropped through the slot into the slot-chamber it may ride upon the conductor and the guide, and the guide always acts to keep the current-collector properly in contact with the conductor.

In this present invention I employ a series of yokes, and the yokes have slot-chambers, and the yokes are connected by preferably thin sheet metal, so as to define the area, shape, and depth of the slot-chamber, and the yokes are further connected by slot-rails. These'yokes have Suitable accessible chambers provided with covers, and the accessible chambers receive within them and support suitable insulators, depending from which are suitable arms attached to and sustaining the conductor in the slot chamber. Between these yokes and in the road-bed containing the yoke's and the conduit system herein to be described I place a series of feed-wires inclosed within proper efficient insulation,herein shown as loose blocks of insulating material surrounding said feed-wires, and the insulated feed-wires are contained in wire-passages laid one above the other and side by side in the roadway. These feed-wires and 95 their insulation are extended through suit-- able accessible feed-wire chambers located at suitable intervals and in which access may be had readily to a feed-wire to lead it off into the accessible chamber to be connected with contact with the inner sides of the slot-rails the arm or support depending from the insulation referred to, said arm carrying the cond uctor.

I have mounted the conductor and its cooperating guide in a peculiar manner, to be hereinafter more fully described, whereby eX- pansion and contraction of the same, due to heat, obviates any twisting or throwing of the conductor or guide out of position.

The yokes herein described are in some instances shown as provided with two slotchambers, which in practice may be located between the road-beds of a two-track railway, the arm carrying the current-collector being herein shown as attached to the equalizer-bar of the car.

I have also made provision for enabling the current-collector to travel from the slot between the slot-rails in one street into the slot between the slot-rails laid in another street.

As herein shown, the insulation from which depend the arms carrying the conductor is inclosed by a cap or cover which actually prevents any moisture whatever from getting upon the exterior of the insulator, and I have shown the accessible chamber and the feedwire chamberas inelosed each under two suitable covers, to thereby exclude dampness and moisture from the accessible chambers and the feed-wire chambers.

The particular features in which my invention consists will be hereinafter more full y described in the following specification and will be set forth in the claims at the end thereof.

Figure 1 is a partial top or plan view, partially broken out, of an electric conduit embodying myinvention, the same being shown as in place between the inner rails of a double track; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section on line mm, Fig. 3, and taken through the insulatingseetion of the wire and through the pipe in which it is contained; Fig. 3, an end view of the carrier shown in Fig. 2; Fig. i, a transverse section on line OJ a, Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a side view of one of the yoke-like supportingframes shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a modification to be referred to; Fig. 7, a sectional view of my improved insulator shown in Fig. 1 as supporting the main conductor; Fig. 8, a section of a modified form of insulator; Fig. 9, a detail on an enlarged scale to more clearly showone form of a trolleyor current-collector embodying my invention as in place in the slot-chamber, together with its frame or carrier and arm by which to connect it with the car. Fig. 9 shows a conductor and guide surface embodying one form of myinvention, with a trolleywhcel in place thereon; Fig. 10, an under side view of the arm and some of its parts shown in Fig. 9, together with the trolley; Fig. 11, a partial vertical section on line 1 1 Fig. 9, the arm a being omitted; Fig. 12, a sectional detail to be referred to, the section being taken in the line 7 1 Fig. 9; Fig. 13, a view in elevation and section, showing a portion of a ear-truck and a trolley in engagementwith a conductorembodying my invention and located in the slot-chamber of my improved conduit, the section being taken on line 032 03 Fig. 1; Fig. 1-1, a top or plan view of a portion of the conductor shown in Fig. 1, illustrating a branch supposed to lead into a branch of the conduit, the conduit portion being omitted; Fig. 15, an under side View of a portion of the conductor and its supporting-brace or coupling; Fig. 1G, a crosssection through the center of the coupling or supporting-brace to more clearly show the construction of the same; Figs. 17 and 18, modifications to be referred to.

My improved conduit is composed, as herein shown, of a series or plurality of yoke-like frames A, each of which is preferably so constructed, as will be described, as to form two slot-chambers a a, two accessible chambers 0. a and an intermediate accessible feedwire or power chamber a. (See Fig.

The slot-chambers ea of adjacent supporting-frames A are connected together to form a continuation of the said chambers, preferably by sheet-metal plates of, (see Fig. 13,) shaped to conform to the shape of the slotchambers in the supporting-frames.

The yoke-shaped supporting-frames A are connected by the slot-rails a a.

Each slot-chamber has located within it below and parallel to the slot between the slotrails, in the upper part of the slot-cha1nber,a conductor 3, so constructed as to receive against it the trolley or current-collector, of whatever form, the conducting-surface 3 having equidistant from it a guiding-surface 2, which acts to help keep the trolley, to be described, in riding contact with the conducting-surface by the gravity of the trolley and the parts to which it is attached or by a pressure exerted therethrough, the trolley being free to be lifted from the conductor and guiding surfaces at will through the slot in the slot-chamber. The conductor 3 is located at one side of a vertical line intersecting the slot between the slot-rails, while the guidingsurface 2 is located at the other side of said line, and there is a space between for the passage of dirt, water, &c., into the lower part of the slot-chamber.

From an inspection of the drawings, Figs. at, 5, 9, and 16, and of the modified forms of conductors, Figs. 17 and 18, it may be seen that the parts constituting the conducting surface and the guiding-surface will occupy such positions one with relation to the other as to make of the two surfaces a trough-like support for the trolley. These two surfaces 3 and 2, one of which will be a good conductor, may be of different pieces or of one piece, as represented in the drawings. In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 16 these surfaces are shown as independent bars inclined downwardly from each other to permit water, dirt, and other debris to fall through to the bottom of the slot-chamber, to be led therefrom th rough usual channels common to conduits into a sewer. I- shall hereinafter speak of these surfaces 2 3 as constituting a trough -like support or conductor and shall also refer to the surfaces individually, it being, however, understood that they willact the same one with relation to the other whether they are in one or two pieces, for if all of one piece and of metal the entire conductor would be of the same sign.

The support or conductor is sustained, as stated, in the slot-chamber by yoke-shaped ends of arms I), sustained by insulator-blocks b, and by yoke-stands 01 (see Figs. 13 and 16) atpoints between the said arms. The insulator b, as shown in Fig. 7, is also provided at its upper end with a recess or socket b to receive a hydrocarbon or other suitable oil, the-stem b of the arm I) being extended into the said recess and provided, as shown, with a washer b and a nut b Viewing Fig. 4, which shows the yokeshaped supporting-frame in cross-section, it will be noticed'that the arm b, suspended from the insulator b, is passed through an open space 300 in one of the walls of the slotchamber, and it will also be noticed that the feed-wires are led'out from the accessible chamber through openings, as at 301, into the space occupied by the insulator, thus leaving an open passage-way between the accessible chamber covered by the covers (Z d for the passage of any gases eliminated from the earth by heat, sweating, or otherwise, so that the said gases instead of collecting in the accessible chamber are free to escape out through the openings 301' and 300 into the slot-chamber.

The insulator b may be secured in its accessible chamber by a yoke or bracket b whichmay be fastened to a side wall of the said chamberin any usual manner, the arms I) being extended from said insulator laterally to receive and support the conductor in the slot-chamber. v

To increase the efficiency 'of my improved insulator, it is providedwith a protecting hood or cover b preferably shaped so as to extend down overthe insulator and beyond the edges of the cup-shaped flange 19 thereof, the said flange b holding preferably a quantity of hydrocarbon or other oil b to serve as a barrier of insulation to prevent moisture from creeping along the arms I) to the metal of the said feed-wires being shown, it being markeduaand to obtain'a most thorough insulation of these wires in the wireways I. have provided within each pipe or tube independent insulators Z9 preferably made in short sections, substantially as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and preferably the insulators will be provided with longitudinal external ribs 4: to-

11 are each provided with a central bore or opening 17 through which the feed-wire'i's extended.

The air-passages formed as described per-' mit desiccated air or other medium to circu-' late or be circulated or forced'through and around the insulators and the Wire, and thus keep the feed-wires'in a dry or substantially dry condition and prevent the formation of a ground connection between the feed-wires and the tubes b The accessible feedwire or power chambers a have suitable covers, as (1 d and-by removing these covers access may be had to a feed-wire, as represented in Fig. 4, in order that said feed-wires may be led from the accessible wire-chambers into the accessible chambers containing the insulators, in order that said feed-wires may be attached to the arms supporting the conductor in the slot chamber. Fig. 1 shows said covers removed and the feed-wire tapped off, as described, and better shown in Fig. 4.

. The trolley (shown in Figs. 9, 9 11, and 13) to cooperate with the trough-like conductor located in the slot-chamber is represented as having a rolling surface, the drawings showing two round flangeless wheels 0, (see Fig 9,) having suitable journals mounted in suitable bushings or antifriction -bearings' c, which may be of rawhide or other suitable material supported in a trolley frameor carrier, (see Fig. 11,) shown as composed of two metallic plates 0 0 secured to the opposite sides of an insulating piece or bar 0 the said wheels being located between the said plates,

the said insulating-bar above the plates 0 0 having secured to it at its opposite sides metallic wear-plates c.

I consider the use of one wheel or disk 0 as within the scope of my invention.

The metallic plates 0 0 have secured to or formed as continuations thereof forked arms 0 c pivotally secured, as at c, to a trolleycarrier 0 preferably made as a single bar provided at one end with a pivoted link 0 having a socket or hole 0 to fit over a stud orbolt 0 (see Fig. ;l3,) fastened to some part of the frame of the truck, the connection.

herein represented being with the equalizerbar 0 the said stud or bolt being firmly secured in place by a suitable key or device 0 (see Fig. 13,) the joint so formed being substantially a universal joint.

The metal plates 0 c of the trolleyframe have electrically joined to them, as by bolts or screws a", a conducting-bar c, (shown in section, Fig. 11, and by dotted lines, Fig. 9,) which is extended up through the insulating material c in the trolley-arm frame and at its upper end is electrically connected, as represented, to a suitable nipple or block 0 to which a conductor c leading to the motor, is secured, as by nuts 0 (See Fig. 11.)

The connection of the wire 0 to the nipple is protected from dirt, drip, &c., by a suitable cap or hood which, as represented, is screwed to the trolley-frame.

I11 order to maintain the trolley-frame in correct working position with relation to the trolley-arm 0 the said frame is engaged on its opposite sides preferably by two sets of springs (Z (1, having one end joined in suitable manner to the frame and their other ends connected to cords or other flexible connections (Z d, which in practice are wound upon suitable drums (1 (F, having bearings in stands (Z (1 depending from the sides of the trolley arm or bar 0 The drums (1 d maybe rotated to regulate the tension of the springs d d upon the trolley-frame by a suitable key, (not shown,) which is adapted to engage the square or other than round ends of the shafts (Z d" of the said drums.

The drums (1(Z are maintained in their wound-up position by means of pawls (Z (Z on the ends of levers, pivoted as at (Z (1 the said pawls being held in engagement with the teeth of ratchets (7/ (Z on the shafts (Z d by springs (Z (1, one end of the said springs being secured to the pawls and the other to the trolley-arm c In order to strengthen the trolley-frame at its edges, a reinforcing-strip or guard-bar 6 (see Fig. 12) is clamped between the plates a" and secured to said plates by the screw 0, there being one such reinforcing plate or bar on each side of the trolley-arm.

In order to remove dirt or other debris which may become lodged between the members 2 3 of the trough-like conductor, the trolley-frame is provided, as herein shown, with a plow e pivoted to the plates 0 0 near one end, as at e. The plow c is provided with a pin c, (see Fig. 0,) forming a stop to limit its downward movement between the surfaces 2 3. The plow c at any desired point may be automatically removed from between the surfaces 2 3 of the conductor, as at a switch, by a downwardly-inclined spur or arm a, secured to the conductor in that length thereof at which a branch 0 is to be made.

In the travel of the car whenever the plow c strikes the spur e the said plow will travel up the said inclined spur or arm a and rest upon a flat portion or bridge, as 0 (see Fig. 14,) of the conductor, on which it will ride, while the frame passes to another conductor, as c, in another slot-chamber branching-from the main slot-chamber.

The slot-rails will have at suitable points suitable side slots for the passage of the trolley-frame into a branch conductor or carrier, as common in cable conductors, and the track will have usual switch-points to direct the ear-wheels.

The trolley-frame has preferably secured to it a metallic brush e adapted to rest upon the conductor and keep it bright and free from any dust, and in order that the brush may not drop out of operative position when the trolley-frame is removed from the slotchamber I have provided a locking device, shown as a hook 6 secured to the trolleyframe and adapted to project under and in line with a finger e on the brush e Electrical connection between the trolley or current-collector and the plates 0 0 may be effected, as herein shown, by means of conducting-brushes or metallic strips d one of which is shown in Fig. 9 by full lines.

I prefer to employ an insulator constructed as shown in Figs. 4 and 7, but I do not desire to limit my invention in this respect, as the insulator may be made as shown in Fig. 8, wherein the stem 71* of the arm Z) is shown as screw-threaded to enter a threaded socket in the insulator l), the cover or hood being provided with a projection or lug (Z on its under side to fit into a recess in the top of the insulater.

The accessible chambers a a and the feedwire or power chamber a of the supportingframes A are individually provided with covers (Z as herein shown, and the three covers (Z are protected by a sin gle cover d. These covers in practice will be made watertight in any desired manner.

To strengthen the slot-chambers a of on their inner side and prevent buckling or squeezing together of the slot-rails, each slotchamber is preferably provided, as shown, with a number of braces, struts, or bars (1 supported by lugs or cars (1 011 the side walls of the slot-chamber, as shown in Fig. 5.

The braces or bars (1 are located in the upper portion of the slot-chamber at a point where the pressure upon the yoke-like frames is the greatest to press them together, so as to close the slot between the slot-rails, and it will be noticed that the conductor is located above the said braces or bars.

The supporting-frames, as represented in Figs. 4 and 5, are made in a single piece or casting, which in practice will preferably be of iron; but, if desired, the supporting-frames may be made in parts of different materials as, for instance, as shown in Fig. 6, wherein the lower portion of the frame is represented as composed of brick or masonry (Z to which the upper parts of the snpporting-frame are secured, as by bolts (1 Preferably both surfaces 2 3 will be made of conducting material, as a more efficient contact may be made with this construction; but, if desired, only one of the members may be of conducting material and the other of non-conducting material, it serving the purpose of a guide.

The surfaces 2 3 of the conduct0r(se e Figs. 13 to 16) are made in sections, and the sections are secured to the arms I) of the insulators so as to break joints.

The surfaces 2 3 are rigidly secured to the arms I) and to the stands or braces 01 by screws d and in order to allow for expansion and contraction of the metal of the surfaces 2 3 of the conductors one halfvor arm of the U-shaped portions of the arms b and of the stands or braces (Z are bifurcated or split, as at 01 (see Fig. 15,) to form spring portions, and the adjacent ends of adjoining sections of the surfaces 2 3 are secured to the spring portions of the arm I) and braces al as shown in Figs. 13 and 15, the spring portions being brought toward each other by the expansion of the metal. The trolley-Wheels c are circular or round on their periphery and make contact with both surfaces 2 3 of the conductor. The contact'of the Wheels 0 with the conductor is direct and positive, and as they ride or roll thereon obviates skipping or irregular contact of the trolley or currentcollector with the conductor whenthe car is traveling at a substantially high rate of speed, and irregularities in the level of the track with relation to the surfaces 2 3 do not affect the uniformity of contact. The couplings (Z hold the two surfaces 2 3 of the conductor firmly in position and form a rigid support.-

The reinforcing or guard bars e, being beveled orrounded, as shown in Figs. 9 and 12,

prevent injury to the trolley-frame in case the said arm meets with an obstructionas,

. conductor.

By removing the covers 61 ,61 access may be had to the interior of the conduit for repairs or other purpose. 7 I

The insulator b shown and described is not herein claimed, broadly, irrespective of a conduit.

The insulators 12 forthe power-wires may be made of porcelain or other insulating material and be cast inone piece with a central opening, or the said insulators may bemade in two or more pieces secured together, as by bands 50; (See Figs. 1, 2,;and3.)

- In Fig. 17 the conducting-surface t, corresponding to the surface 3, and the guiding-' 1 periphery a web and shoulders to rest against the said surfaces.

Ic1aim.

1. An electric-railway system, comprehending the following instrumentalities, viz: a conduit having a-slot-chamber; a conductor and guide having conducting and guiding surfaces located in said slot-chamber and in line vertically with the slot of the slot-chamber, independent tie-bars to connect the said surfaces at intervals, and a trolley-frame and trolley, the trolley and frame being adapted to be withdrawn or be inserted into the slot of the slotchamber and to drop directly against and ride upon the said conductor, substantially as described. 7 V

2. An electric-railway system,comprehending the following instrumentalities, viz: a conduit having a slot-chamber; a conductor and guide having conducting and guiding surfaces located in said'slot-chamber and in line vertically with the slot of the slot-cham ber, independent.tie-bars to connect the said surfaces at intervals, and insulated arms to support the said tie-bars, and a trolley-frame,

and a trolley made as a wheel, free to roll on the conductor, substantially as described.

7 3. An electric-railway-system,comprehend-' ing the following instrulnentalities, viz: a conduit having aslot-chamber; a conductor located in said slot-chamber and in line vertically with the slot of said slot-chamber, and

a guide substantially equidistant therefrom, a trolley arm ,or frame of a width less than the widthof the opening between the slotrails, an insulated conductor carried by said arm, a trolley adapted to enter wholly within said slot-chamber and ride on both the said conductor and guide, the guide aiding in keeping the trolley seated on the conductor, substantially as described.

4. The combination in an electric-railway system, of the following instrumentalities, Viz: a series of yokes forming parts of aslot-' chamber and having openings at one side in communication with accessible chambers forming parts of said yokes a conductor, and a guide having a surface substantially equidistant therefrom; arms sustained in said accessible chambers and extended through the openings in one of the walls of said yokes, said arms presenting separated portions for the connection thereto of the ends of the material forming said conductor, a trolley-frame and trolley-wheel both free to dropbodily into the slot of. the slot-chamber with the trolley-wheel fully within said slotchamber,

and free to roll on the parallel surfaces of said conductor and guide, substantially as described.

5. In an undcrground-comluit system for electric railways, the combination with a series of yokes forming parts of a slot-chamber, and a series of braces located between the opposite walls of the said yokes, of substantially parallel conducting and guiding surfaces, tic-bars to support the same entirely independent of one of the side walls of the yokes, the said tie-bars being supported by arms extended into accessible chambers near one of the sides of the yokcs, the said surfaces being separated at intervals for the passage of water and dirt between them, and a trolley-wheel and its carrying-arm, both free to drop bodily into and through the slotchamber and fall directly upon the said parallel condueting-surfaces,the conducting-surfaces being located above the said braces or struts, to operate, substantially as described.

6. In a conduit system for electric railways, the combination with a trough-like conductor presenting surfaces 3 and 2, separated for the whole or a portion of their length to leave an opening for the passage of dirt, &c., of a trolley-frame provided with a trolley or ourrent-collector to make contact with the said conductor, and a plow, carried by the said trolley-frame, to enter the space between the said surfaces, substantially as described.

'7. In a conduit system for electric railways, the combination with a conductor, and an independent guide separated for the whole or a portion of its length from said conductor to leave an opening for the passage of dirt, &c., of a trolley-frame provided with a trolley to make contact with the said conductor and guide, a plow carried by said trolleyframe to enter the space between the said conductor and guide, and means to raise the said plow, substantially as described.

8. In a conduit system for electric railways, the combination with a conduit having a slotchamber, and a conductor presenting surfaces 3 and 2, one surface serving as a guide for the other, of a frame extended through the said slot and a brush carried by the said frame and engaging the said surfaces, substantially as described.

9. In a conduit system of electric railways, the combination with a slot-chamber, a conductor located therein and in line vertically with the slot in the slot-chamber, of a trolleyframe provided with a rolling-contact surface and adapted to descend freely through said slot and make a rolling contact with the said conductor, a trolley-arm adapted to be fastened to the car and to which the said trolley-frame is pivoted, an insulated conductor connected to said ear extended through said trolley-frame and in communication with the said trolley-wheel, the said trolley-wheel and its frame being free to drop bodily through the slot-chamber and upon the said conductor, substantially as described.

10. In a conduit system of electric railways,

the combination with a slot-chamber, a conductor located therein and in line vertically with the slot in the slot-chamber, of a trolleyframe provided with a rolling-contact surface and adapted to descend freely through said slot and make a rolling contact with the said conductor, and a trolley-arm adapted to be fastened to the ear and to which the said trolley-frame is pivoted, and springs to act on opposite sides of the trolley-frame, substantially as described.

11. In a conduit system of electric railways, the combination with a main conductor located in the slot-chamber of the conduit, of a trolley-frame provided with a rolling-contact surface to make a rolling contact with the said conductor, a trolley-arm adapted to be fastened to the car and to which the said trolley-frame is pivoted, springs connected to the trolley frame and arm, and means to regulate or adjust the tension of said springs, substantially as described.

12. In aconduit system of electric railways, a trolley-frame consisting of metallic plates or pieces 0", c trolley-wheels 0 having bearings in antifriction-bushings carried by said plates; means to electrically connect the trolley-wheels to the plates c, c, insulating material to which said plates are secured, a conducting strip or piece extended through said insulating material, and metallic wear-plates 0 0 secured to the insulating material, substantially as described.

13. In a conduit system of electric railways, a trolley-frame consisting of metallic plates or pieces 0 c; trolley-wheels 0 having antifriction-bushings, means to electrically connect the trolley'udieels to the said plates or pieces, insulating material to which said plates are secured; a conducting strip or piece extended through said insulating material, plates 0 a secured to the insulating material, and a reinforcing or guard bare, substantially as described.

11-. The herein-described trolley-frame, it consisting of the plates 0 c,an insulating piece or bar 0" to which said plates are seen red, eontaet-wheels 0 carried by the said plates, plates 0 a, secured to the insulating plate or bar a, and a conducting strip or bar 0 extended through the insulating piece or bar and electrically connected to one or both of the plates 0 a, substantially as described.

15. In a conduit system for electric railways, the combination with a conduit having a slotchamber and an accessible chamber; of a conductor composed of surfaces 2, 3, having an opening between them, tie-bars to unite and strengthen the said members, and an insulator in the accessible chamber provided with an arm, to which said members are secured, substantially as described.

1 6. In a conduit system for electric railways, the combination withv aserics of yoke-shaped supporting-frames each provided with a slotchamber and an accessible chamber, of strengthening-bars located in the slot-cham- IIO I her to prventinward buckling, of the walls scribed. I I

. 17. Inaconduit systemfor electric railways, the combination with a conductor andguide of' the slot-chamber,substantially as de- .2', 3 made in sections, of insulators having tially as described.

' 1.9. In a conduit system for electric railways, a conductor and parallel guide having branches connected by a bridge, substantially as described, whereby a trolley may runfrom a main conductor upon a branch conductor, substantially as described.

20. In an electric street-railwaysystem, a conduit presenting a series-of yokes provided each witha slot-chamber, slot-rails connecting said yokes to thus provide a continuous slot-chamber from one to the next yoke, said slot-rails communicating with a chamberin the roadway between .said yokes to form a continuous slot-chamber for the reception of the arm of a current-collector connecting with and depending from the car, a conductor and a guideway located in said slot-chamber each at opposite sides of a vertical plane. intersecting the exposed slot at the surface of the slot-chamber, the current-collector working between said conductor and guideway, a series of accessible chambers having removable covers, a series of insulated arms supported in said accessible chambers, and extending therefrom laterally to supportsaid conductor in said slot-chamber, insulated feed-wires extended-through a series of separate wireways laid in. the street betweensaid slotchambers and yokes, andan accessible wirechamber at intervals in which the feed-wires are accessible and from which they may be led to the insulated arms sustaining said conductors, substantially as described.

21. In a conduit for electric wires the fol: lowing instru'mentalities, viz: a yoke having a slot-chamber and an insulating-chamber communicating therewith through the side walls of the yoke, and below the slot-rails supported by said yoke,'an insulated arm extended from said insulating-chamber through the .wall of the yoke, a conductor mounted upon the end of said arm between it and the slot-rails, and shaped to permit a trolley-wheel to roll thereon, and a strut, extended across the upper part of said slot-chamber from one to theother side of the yoke below and independent of said conductor-arm, substantially as described.

22. In a conduit system for electric railways,

an underground conduit having a slot and slot-chamber, and a main conductor, and branches, to cooperate with a switch, said branches having an uninterrupted connection'with said main conductor by means of a bridge, said conductor, bridge and branches affording anunbroken line of travel for a traveling contact carried by a car, substantially as described.

- 24. In a conduit system for electric railways, the combination with an underground conduit and a conductor therein adapted to receive a trolley, and branches, connected to j said conductor by a bridge, of an inclined spur or arm, adjacent said conductor at the point of departure of said branch to receive said trolley and automatically raise it to enable it to run on said bridge, substantiallyas described.

25. In a conduit system for electric railways, an underground conduit having aslot and slot-chamber, and a main conductor, and

branches having an uninterrupted connection with said main conductor by means of a bridge, said conductor, bridge and branches affording an unbroken line oftravel for a traveling contact carried by a car, and inclined spurs or arms adjacent said bridge to raise said contact thereon, substantially as described.

26. .In an electric street-railway system, a conduit presenting a series of yokes presenting two slot-chambers, each chamber having as part of it two lines of slot-rails and sheetmetal plates shaped to conform to the outlines of the slot-chambers and connecting the yokes; a conductor and a guide occupying branches, to cooperate with a switch, said 1 IIO parallel positions in said slot-chambers and located each at opposite sides of a vertical ,plane intersecting the center of said slotchamber at the street; a series of accessible chambers having removable covers; a series of insulated arms located in said accessible chambers and extended therefrom toward and to support the conductors of said slot-chambers; a series of insulated feed-wires extended through the street in wireways buried therein between said slot-chambers and said-yokes; a series of accessible wire-chambers in which access may be had to said feed-wires and from which they may be led and connected to said insulated arms, and covers for said accessible wire-chambers, substantially as described.

27. In an electric street-railway system, a conduit presenting a series of yokes provided with slot-chambers, sheet-metal plates, and slot-rails connecting said yokes to thus provide a continuous slotchamber for the reception of the arm of a current-collector con.-

nected with and depending from a car; a conductor and a guide located in said slot-chamber each at opposite sides of a vertical plane intersecting the exposed slot at the surface of the slot-chamber; a series of accessible chambers having removable covers; a series of insulated arms supported in said accessible chambers and extended therefrom laterally to sustain said conductor in said slot-chamber; insulated feed-wires extended through a series of separate wireways laid in the earth between said yokes, and accessible wire-chambers at intervals in which the feed-wires are accessible and from which they may be led to the insulated arms sustaining said conductor, substantially as described.

98. A frame or carrier composed of two metallic plates, a current-collector carried thereby, a conductor in communication with said current-collector and insulation covering said conductor and located between it and said plates; wear-plates applied to said insution outside of said conductor and out of contact with said metallic plates, and a coupling connected with the said insulated conductor contact with said metallic plates, combined with a coupling to couple said conductor with the electric motor on the car, and a hood serving said coupling to exclude dirt, &c., substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY A. CHASE.

\Vi tnesses:

GEO. W. Gunconv, A. S. WmeANn.

Correction in Lettetsf Patent No. 605,814.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent N 0. 605,814, granted June 14, 1898, upon the application of Henry A. Chase, of Boston, Massachusetts, for an improvement in Electric-Railway Systems, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correctiomas follows: In line'26, page 8, the word or should be stricken out; and

that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same mayconform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 12th day of July, A. 1)., 1898.

[SEAL] WEBSTER DAVIS,

Assistant Secretary of the Interior. Countersigned G. H. DUELL,

Commissioner of Patents. 

